Hoisting and conveying device



(No Model.) 6 Shets-Sheet 1.

E. G. SPILSBURY & S. S. WEBBER. HOISTING AND CONVEYING DEVICE.

No. 475,710. Patented May 24, 1892.

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E. G. SPILSBURY & S. S. WEBBER.

HOISTING AND CONVEYING DEVICE.

No. 475,710. P tented May 24, 1892.

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(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 3.

B. G. SPILSBURY & S. S. WEBBER. HOISTING AND CONVEYING DEVICE.

No. 475,710. Patented. May 24, 1892.

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mz'frzedd 4 (No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 4.

E. G. SPILSBURY 8v S. S. WEBBER. HOISTING AND CONVEYING DEVICE.

No. 475,710. Patented May 24,1892.

(o fjizzwzfm W4 (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

E. G. SPILSBURY '8: S. S. WEBBER.

HOISTING AND CONVEYING DEVICE.

Patented May 24, 1892.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

E. G. SPILSBURY 86 S. S. WEBBBR.

HOISTING AND CONVEYING DEVICE.

No. 475, I Patented May 24, 1892.

UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

EDMUND GYBBON SPILSBURY AND SAMUEL S. WVEBBER, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

HOISTING AND CONVEYING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,710, dated May 24, 1892. Application filed October l5 1891. Serial No. 408,843. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: larger scale, a plan View Of a part of said aux- Be it known that we, EDMUND GYBBON iliary carriage. Fig. 12 represents a detail SPILSBURY and SAMUEL S. l/VEBBER, citizens perspective view of the locking-catch for enof the United States, residing at Trenton, in gaging said carriage with the hoisting-rope, 55 5 the county of Mercerand State of New Jersey, and Fig. 13 represents an end elevation of have invented certain new and useful Imone of the hoisting-rope supports. provements in Hoisting and Conveying De- Similar numerals of reference indicate simivices; and we do hereby declare the following lar parts throughout the severalviews. to be a full, clear, and exact description of the Referring to the drawings, 20 indicates a 60 I invention, such as will enable others skilled in standard erected at the power-station. 21 in- -the art to which it appertains to make and use dicates the distant terminal standard and 22 the same. intermediate standards, all of said standards Our invention relates to certain new and together constituting the supporting frameuseful improvements in tramways, and more work for the aerial tramway ropes or cables 65 I particularly to that class of aerial wire rope 23. These ropes or cables 23, preferably of or cable tramways employed for the hoisting wire, are at their ends securely anchored in and removal of material from one point or the ground, as indicated, and are stretched station to another along the line. as tightly as practicable over the supports, so

The object of our invention is to provide a as to sag as little aspossible with the weight 70 simple, durable, and economical construction of the hoisting-carriage. The terminal standand arrangement of parts for the general purards 20 and 21 are provided with saddles 2a pose specified, the Whole being adapted to be 26, having grooves within which the cables .eificiently and quickly manipulated from the lie, and the intermediate standards 22 are power-station by a single operator. provided with grooved cast-iron shoes 27 for 75 25 In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 a like purpose, whereby the cables are held represents in side elevation and partial secapart and equally spaced throughout their tion a portion of an aerial tramway embodyentire extent, but project sufficiently above ing our improvements. Fig. 1 represents a the grooves to afford a sufficient bearing like View of a continuation of said tramway, thereat for the passage of the train-wheels. 8o the carriage for the hoisting devices being It will of course be noted that the grooved shown as advanced along the line to the disshoes 27 of the intermediate standards are chargingstation. Fig. 2 represents, partly themselves spaced apart, so as not to interin section and partly in end elevation, the upfere with the passage of the hoisting-carriage per part of the power-station standard. Fig. between them. 3 3 5 3 represents a similar View of the distant At the power-station is located an engine terminal standard. Fig. 4 represents an end and generator 28 of anysuitable type adapted elevation of the upper part of one of the into operate the sheave 29 and winding-drum termediate standards. Fig. 5 represents a 30, which are mounted and geared to revolve perspective of one of the open bearings for separately and independently of each other 90 the hoisting-rope supports, Fig. 6 represents when desired, or which, for purposes herea top plan View of a portion of the tramwayinafter described, may be operated simultacarriage for the hoisting devices. Fig. 7 repneously at the same rate of speed. \Ve have resents a side elevation thereof. Fig. 8 repnot thought it necessary to specifically illusresentsacentral verticalcross-section through trate such gearing, as it may be readily sup- 5 5 one of the pairs of tram-wheels of said carplied by the skilled workman.

riage and the corresponding hoisting-sheave. Upon the sheave 29 is wound a few turns Fig. 9 represents a side elevation of the auxof a taut endless hauling-rope 31, so as to iliary carriage for gathering and redistributgive the sheave a sufficient bite upon said ing the removable hoisting rope supports. rope to operate it when the sheave is revolved. I00 Fig. 10 represents an end elevation and par- The outgoing portion of said hauling-rope tial section thereof. Fig. 11 represents, on a passes over the sheave 32 of the standard 20,

thence over the barrel-rollers 33 of the inter mediate supports 22, and thence over the sheave 34 of the standard 21, the return portion of the rope passing over the sheave 35 of the standard and back to the sheave 29.

Interposed in thehauling-rope 31 and forming a part of it is the main-tramway carriage or carriage for supporting the hoisting devices. In Fig. 1 this main-tramway carriage is shown as at the station where the excavation is being made and from which the material excavated is to be transported. In Fig. 1 the same carriage is shown as moved along the line to the point of dumping or discharging of the hoistingbuckets. In the form shown the carriage consists of a series of pairs of wheels 36, mounted upon journals 37, said wheels being grooved to rest upon the Wire-rope tram-tracks 23. The wheel-journals 37 are connected together by tie-bars 38, through which said journals pass loosely. Upon the journals 37 are also hung loosely the vertical hangers 39, within whose lower ends are looselyjournalcd the hoisting-sheaves 40. These hoisting-sheaves are in like manner connected together by tie-bars 41, through which the hoisting-sheave journals pass loosely, and from the journal of each hoistingsheave diagonal braces 42 extend to and loosely encircle the journal 37 of the next succeeding pair of tram-wheels 36. The purpose of giving this jointed structure to the framework of thetramway-carriage is to permit it to pass over the rigid supports afforded by the grooved shoes 27 without having the tram-wheels 36 leave the cable tram-tracks. In practice, however taut the cable tramtracks 23 may be originally, the weight of the tramway-carriage when loaded will cause more or less depression of said tracks bet ween the points of support, as is indicated in Fig. 1. This depression would tend to cause the advance wheels of the carriage to leave the cable tram-track in passing over and beyond a support were it not for the jointed structure of the carriage, which permits the jointed sections of the carriage to accommodate themselves to the changes of level. It will be noted that the hoisting-sheaves sustaining the hoisting-bucket 43 are located immediately below the center of gravity of the corresponding tram-wheels 36, and consequently aid as weights in retaining said wheels upon the tram-tracks.

Upon the winding-drum is Wound a hoistin'g-rope 44, which, passing over the sheave 45 of the standard 20, is provided with four continuations connected at a common point 46 and supporting the corresponding hoistingbuckets 43. The function of this hoistingrope is to permit the buckets43 to be lowered into the excavation and filled thereat, and

subsequently to hoist them out of the excavation, and to a sufficient height above the ground to be readily transported. along the line to the point of discharge by the carriage supportingthem. Itis evident that for the purpose of raising and lowering the hoisting-buckets the hoisting-drum 30 should be operated separately from and independently of the haulingrope, actuating-sheave, or live-pulley 29. When, however, the buckets in the elevated position are to be transported by the haulingrope to the discharge or dumping station, it is apparent that the hoisting-rope should be fed or paid out at the same rate of speed as the hauling-rope, in order that the height of the hoisting-buckets above the ground during transport shall remain unchanged. To this end we have provided means for engaging the hauling-rope with the hoisting-rope after the buckets have been elevated, so that as the hauling-rope is operated to carry along the buckets the hoisting-rope will be paid off from the drum 30 at a corresponding speed. The means referred to consist of a stop-block 47, fixed upon the hoisting-rope and adapted to engage with a locking catch or projection moving with the hauling-rope. In the form shown in the drawings the projection referred to is a gravity-catch 48, forked at itslower end to straddle the hoisting-rope and adapted to abut against the stop-block 47 when said gravity-catch is in the lowered position. The gravity-catch is mounted to slide freely within guides made in the frame-work of an auxiliary tramway carriage or truck connected in and forming a part of the hauling-rope. Said auxiliary carriage is provided with front and rear pairs of tram-track wheels 50, connected together by tie-bars 49, and having converging diagonal hangers 51 connected together by cross-braces 52 and supporting a grooved Wheel 53, which underruns the hoisting-rope and is weighted by the depending balance 54.

The gravity-catch 48 is provided with a slotor recess 55 for the engagement of a liftinglever 56, whose actuating-cord 57 extends back along the line and is under the control of the operator, so that by pulling upon the cord the gravity-catch may be lifted out of the path of the block 47, or by releasing the cord the gravity-catch may be dropped into engagement with said block. When at the excavating-station the hoisting-buckets have been filled, they are then raised by the hoistingrope until the block 47 abuts against, raises, and passes the gravity-catch 48, which thereupon drops again into engaging position. The stress exerted upon the hoisting-rope by the buckets and their contents is now permitted to draw back the block 47 firmly against the gravity-catch. The hauling-rope is then actuated to draw the main tramway-carriage toward the dumping-station, and during this movement of transportation the hoisting-rope moves correspondingly, being constantly paid off from its drum 30 by reason of the weight of the buckets and their contents. It is evident that because of the engagement of the block 47 and gravity-catch 48 the hoisting-rope cannot pay off or move faster than the hauling-rope; but it is limited to move at a cor responding rate of speed, so that during IIO . transport the height of the buckets above the the excavating-station to the dumping-station it is evident that the hoisting-rope would be liable to sag unless sustained by supports along the line. It is impracticable, however,

to provide permanent supports for that pur pose, inasmuch as such supports would be in, the line of movement of the carriage and would obstruct its path. To obviate this difficulty we employ a series of removable supports for the hoisting-rope so located, constructed, and

arranged with respect to each other and the remaining parts of the organization that, as

the buckets travel toward the dumping-station, the removable supports for the hoistingrope are successively, one after another, deposited along the line in rear of the traveling carriage at the intermediate supports, and so that on the return of the traveling carriage the said removable support will be successively gathered up and removed from the path of the returning carriage. In the form shown the removable supports consist each of a cross rod or journal 58, from which depend two cheek-pieces 59, between whose lower ends is mounted a friction-roller 60. The space between the cheek-pieces59 is open, so as to receive the prong or forward projection of a horn (51 connected to the auxiliary hauling-rope carriage. The cross-piece orjournal 58 of each of these removable supports is adapted to rest in open bearings 62, mounted upon the intermediate standards 22,asindicated in Fig.4. These bearings occupy a corresponding position at each intermediate standard, but are spaced apart at a progressively-inereasing distance with respect to each other from the most distant intermediate standard 22 to the intermediate standard nearest to the power-stationthat is, assuming the open bearings at the intermediate standard 22 nearest the power-station to be certain distance apart the open bearings of the next succeeding intermediate standard would be at a less distance apart, and so on progressively to the final intermediate standard. The length of the journal or cross-pieces 58 of the series of the movable supports varies in like manner and ratio. Assuming the removable supports to be within their respective bearings and that the hoisting-buckets and consequently the auxiliary carriage is at the remote end of the line with respect to the power-station, said carriage in moving toward the power-station would by means of the horn 61 successively take up and remove the removable supports from in front of the advancingmain tramwaycarriage and would arrange the removable supports upon the horn 61, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 9. To insure a closer and more compact arrangement of the removable sup ports upon thehorn, we make the cheek-pieces 59 of the several supports of unequal length, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, so that the frictionrollers 60 will be in different horizontal planes. On the return movement of the buckets toward the dumping-station the auxiliary carriage drops the removable hoisting-rope supports at their proper posts, the removable support having thelongest cross-piece or journal being caught by the more widely-spaced open bearings of the intermediate standard through which the auxiliary carriage first passes, and so on to the last intermediate standard through which the auxiliary carriage passes.

While we have illustrated and described our improvements principally with relation to the excavation of earth and its transportation to a dumping-station, it will of course be understood that we do not restrict ourselves to such employment of the various features of our improvements, but contemplate the employment of the several devices for analogous objects and indeed for all useful purposes to which they may be severally or jointly applicable. Nor do we limit ourselves to the exact construction of the various details, butintend to employ such equivalents therefor as fairly fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 An aerial tramway comprising a trackway supported along the line by a series of standards, the standards intermediate of the terminal standards having a free space between the trackway-supports for the passage of the tramway-carriage, a hauling-rope connected to the tramway-carriage, a hoistingrope depending from the carriage, and supports for preventing the sagging of the hoisting-rope, said hoisting-rope supports spannin g the free space between the trackway-supports and adapted to rest in open bearings, and a projection moving with the hauling-rope in front of the carriage, so as to engage with and successively remove the rope-supports from their bearings as the carriage moves to ward them, substantially as described.

2. An aerial tramway comprising a trackway supported along the line by a series of standards, the standards intermediate of the terminal standards having a free space between the trackway-supports for the passage of the tramway-carriage, a hauling-rope connected to the tramway-carriage, a hoistingrope depending from the carriage, and sup ports for preventing the sagging of the hoisting-rope, said hoisting-rope supports spanning the free space between the trackway-supports and having journals of unequal lengths adapted to rest in open bearings spaced at increasing distance apart in the path of the carriage, and a projection moving with the haulingrope in front of said carriage, so as to engage with and successively remove the ropesupports from the open bearings as the carriage moves toward them and also to success:

ively deposit them within the appropriate bearings as the carriage moves away, substantially as described.

3-. An aerial tramway comprising a trackway supported along the line by a series of standards, the standards intermediate of the terminal standards having a free space between the trackway-supports for the passage of the tramway-carriage, a hauling-rope connected to the tramway-carriage, a hoistingrope depending from the carriage, and supports for preventing the sagging of the hoisting-rope, said hoisting-rope supports spanning the free space between the trackway-supports and having journals of unequal lengths adapted to rest in open bearings spaced at increasing distanccs apart in the path of the carriage, and a projection moving with the hauling-rope in front of said carriage, so as to engage with and successively remove the ropesupports from the open bearings as the carriage moves toward them and also to successively deposit them within the appropriate bearings as the carriage moves away, said hauling-rope supports being further provided with rollers for the reception of the hoistingrope and being of unequal lengths, so as to arrange themselves the more compactly upon the gathering projection, substantially as described.

4. In an aerial tramway, the combination, with the trackway, the main carriage, the hauling-rope, the hoisting-rope, and its removable supports, of a gathering device therefor, consisting of an auxiliary carriage mounted upon the trackway in front of the main carriage and connected to the hauling-rope, said auxiliary carriage having a gathering-horn adapted to engage with and take up the removable supports in advance of the main carriage, and standards having open bearings, Within which the supports are deposited or from which they are removed as the carriage passes, substantially as described.

5. In an aerial tramway, the combination, with the trackway, the main carriage, the

upon the trackway in front of the main carriage and connected to the hauling-rope, said auxiliary carriage having a gathering-horn adapted to engage with and take up the removable supports in advance of the main carriage, the auxiliary carriage being provided with a latch and actuating-cord and the hoisting-rope being provided with a catch adapted to engage said latch,substantially as described.

6. In an aerial tramway, a tramway-carriage made up of independent frames having their proximate ends jointed to each other, so as to adapt their outer ends to swing toward each other in a vertical plane, supporting-wheels on opposite sides of the joint, and additional supporting wheels directly at the joint, substantially as described.

7. In an aerial tramway, a tramway-carriage made up of independent frames having their proximate ends jointed to each other, so as to adapt their outer ends to swing toward each other in a vertical plane, supportingwheels on opposite sides of the joint, additional supporting wheels directly at the joint, and hoisting-sheaves suspended from the carriage below the supporting-wheels, substantially as described.

8. In an aerial tramway, the removable supports for the hauling-rope, consisting of a cross-bar, a sheave or pulley, arms for suspending the sheave from said cross-bar, said arms being separated by an intervening space, open bearings for the cross-bar, and a tramway-carriage provided with a removing-horn adapted to engage the removable supports between the suspending-arms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses. 1

EDMUND GYBBON SPILSBURY. SAMUEL S. WEBBER.

W'itnesses:

FRANCIS O. LOWTHORP, LA BARRE SoHooNovnR. 

